The Fabric of Basketry: Initial Archaeological Study of the Grass Artifacts Assemblage from the Nunalleq Site, Southwest Alaska

More than two thousand archaeological grass artifacts dating from the fifteenth to the seventeenth century have been recovered from Nunalleq (GDN-248), an archaeological site located near the village of Quinhagak, southwest Alaska, in eight seasons of fieldwork at the site. This growing collection o...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Published in:Études/Inuit/Studies
Main Authors: Masson-MacLean, Julie, Masson-MacLean, Edouard, Knecht, Rick
Format: Text
Language:English
Published: Centre interuniversitaire d’études et de recherches autochtones (CIÉRA) 2019
Subjects:
Alaska
archaeology
basketry
grass
weaves
Yup’ik
archéologie
vannerie
herbe
mode d’entrecroisements
Études/Inuit/Studies
permafrost
pergélisol
Online Access:http://id.erudit.org/iderudit/1072715ar
https://doi.org/10.7202/1072715ar
Description
Summary:More than two thousand archaeological grass artifacts dating from the fifteenth to the seventeenth century have been recovered from Nunalleq (GDN-248), an archaeological site located near the village of Quinhagak, southwest Alaska, in eight seasons of fieldwork at the site. This growing collection of basketry and cordage provides unprecedented insights on the use of grass artifacts in precontact Yup’ik households. Permafrost soils have preserved this assemblage astonishingly well, with objects made from grass blades and roots. Here we present the results of a preliminary study of these rarely encountered artifacts, based on the data recorded in the course of conservation work. Plus de 2000 artefacts archéologiques en herbe datant du XVe au XVIIe siècle ont été retrouvés à Nunalleq (GDN-248), un site archéologique situé à proximité du village de Quinhagak, au sud-ouest de l’Alaska, au cours de huit saisons de fouilles archéologiques. Cette collection grandissante de vanneries et cordage apporte un éclairage inédit sur l’utilisation d’artefacts en herbe en contexte domestique pour la période Yup’ik précontact. Le pergélisol a assuré une excellente et incroyable préservation de cet assemblage, contenant des objets fabriqués à partir de brins d’herbe et de racines. Nous présentons ici les résultats d’une étude préliminaire de ces artefacts rarement rencontrés, effectuée à partir des données acquises au cours du travail de conservation.

Similar Items